Yes, Yvonne Orji Is Still Saving Herself For Marriage, But Hopes This Year Will Be The Last
Yvonne Orji is such a damn breath of fresh air. And thankfully so, she has been in full promo mode, making her television rounds to discuss both her new book, Bamboozled By Jesus, and the new and highly-anticipated final season of the extremely popular show, Insecure. The Nigerian-American actress and comedian most recently has been spotted on The Ellen Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she opens up on a plethora of subjects, from manifesting a future daytime talk show, all the way to comparing Ashton Kutcher to Jesus himself.
And listen, our girl is our girl, (which she always will be), so to hear her fresh, and comedic, quickness back on our radars--as if she ever left them--is what we undoubtedly love to see. And despite starring in a show based on the insecurities we all feel when stepping into our true selves, Yvonne feels pretty damn comfortable with who *she* is, with one of those things being a 37-year old virgin.
She's discussed her virginity multiple times on the past, once telling People:
"Before any of [the fame] happened, I sat down with myself and with God and thought, when I make it, how do you want me to represent you while I'm here? It was like, OK, I know why I'm here. It's to make you proud. People ask about it because they're curious, or they may not understand. How will they ever get understand if I don't talk about it? I can inform your curiosity, as opposed to everyone being in the dark and just sort of creating their own narrative about it."
And while at Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she touched on the subject again, when asked about it, immediately looking to the camera and saying, "Where is he? Hurry up, wherever you are. Hurry, OK? Please." Jimmy then asks a legit question, if she feels waiting gets more or less easier as time passes, which she says:
"I mean, I don't know because this is the last year. Wherever you are, hurry. December 2nd is my deadline. We've been in COVID for a long time, those are dog years, fam, OK?!"
Of course, this is all in jest, as Orji takes her Christianity and virginity very seriously. She discussed her path to the decision on The Breakfast Club, where she said:
"Personally, I had plans to have sex when I turned 18. I was dating [redacted] and I had it figured out. But, I got to college at 17 in D.C and then I got saved. It comes out, I don't hide it. The same way people know they've had a one-night stand, you can say that so I can this."
And although she has she has somehow become the "face of virginity" in Hollywood for the culture, she joins the ranks of others such as Sherri Shepherd, Jordin Sparks, and Lolo Jones who waited, (or are waiting), for marriage before having sex, or even now-married women, such as Tamera Mowry-Housley, Mariah Carey, Meagan Good, and Ciara, who all remained celibate with their spouses until they all said, "I do."
"It's like society has allowed us to normalize a lot of sex but hasn't allowed us to normalize the option to also not have sex...It's not like a crusade. I'm not like, 'Guys! Let's all not have sex together.' I can say, 'Hey, I'm Nigerian and I love God and I'm funny, or 'I like to snort when I laugh really loud, I still shop at the 99 cent store.' Like there's so many things about me and not just the one that I'm not doing."
We couldn't agree more, queen.
Watch Yvonne's full appearance at Jimmy Kimmel Live! below:
And as a bonus, here's her wildly popular TED Talk on why 'the wait' is sexy:
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Featured image by Matt Winkelmeyer/2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS
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Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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How Power Women Protect Their Finances With Smart Money Boundaries
No matter what it is, setting boundaries can be challenging, especially when those boundaries involve money. But if you want to sustain success and financial freedom, boundaries are important, both with yourself and with others.
Many wealthy successful women have mastered setting boundaries and prioritizing accountability so that they can ensure they remain that way. Let's face it: If you want a certain quality of life and you work hard to achieve that, you don't want to risk it by taking on habits that jeopardize your financial stability.
Be inspired to not only set money boundaries but keep them by taking heed to the common financial boundaries power women of today establish:
1. They pay themselves first.
Building consistent savings habits is important to wealth-building no matter how much you earn, and the practice is often one that continues even after you're well-booked and well-paid. Actress, producer, and philanthropist Queen Latifah has always been a proponent of this after learning from her mom to "save your money."
This is the epitome of the energy behind paying yourself first. You squirrel something away and take care of yourself by taking care of your future first, before paying any bills. You invest in yourself (within your means and with a budget in mind, of course).
2. They don't loan money without clear repayment rules and expectations are agreed upon.
It's awesome to be able to help people out by loaning them money, but when you don't communicate clearly about repayment (or what will happen if the money is not repaid) you set yourself up for a cycle of taking on other's debts and maybe even building more debt of your own.
Unless you're doing charity, set those boundaries early about when and how a loan will be repaid. And if you know you won't get the money back, rethink the loan altogether.
3. They create budgets that are realistic and reflect their current lifestyle.
In her book, What I Know for Sure, Oprah Winfrey wrote, “I hope the way you spend your money is in line with the truth of who you are and what you care about.” This is key for many successful women, especially when they're budgeting and investing.
Issa Rae told Money.com, "I don’t splurge just because. I will never have 17 cars. I will never have expensive jewelry. I don’t spend that much on my clothes, or shoes. I will spend money on a stylist, and a makeup artist, because those things feel necessary for work. But material things? No."
There's a clear indication that there are clear value systems sustained by what matters to them no matter how much they make, and budgeting is a huge part of that.
4. They consider the long-term effects of a rash purchase before proceeding.
It's totally okay to treat yourself, but if you find yourself impulsively buying things you don't really need or always living check to check because you've maxed out your credit card to take that sixth trip in one year, there's a problem that might put a damper on those financial freedom plans. (That is unless your trip is part of how you make your money, and it's a worthy investment into expanding your prospects.)
Successful women are conscious of the long- and short-term effects of purchases, small and large. They're always thinking about how one action can impact the bigger picture.
5. They are givers and believe in the reciprocity of that.
Many of us are familiar with the famous quote, "To whom much is given, must is required," and there's that undertone of service and charity that is a common thread for wealthy, successful women, especially those who run businesses or lead brands. Involving yourself in acts of service not only enriches your development and that of communities, but it increases your exposure, network, and credibility, often leading to more opportunities to make more money.
Most leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals are big on giving back, whether it is through resources, a nonprofit, money, or their time. "As you become more successful, it's important for you to give back. Even if you can't financially give back, kind words and sharing about other businesses on social media mean so much. Every little thing counts. Help out your friends and family with advice, encouragement, and support," said Angela Yee, award-winning radio host and entrepreneur.
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Originally published on August 16, 2024